Ironman Barcelona 2015 – Gillian Rutledge
The idea and awareness of this thing called an IRONMAN kicked off at the end of 2012 just after I finished my first (and still only) marathon. Having gone from not being able to run 5km to completing this iconic thing called a “marathon”, I thought I was invincible and could take on any challenge. Celebrating in Lanzarote after the marathon, we stumbled across a group of Irish who had just completed Lanzarote 70.3. They were absolutely buzzing! The t-shirt with ‘FINISHER’ across the back was enough for me, this would be the next challenge! Returning home with a long list in hand – road bike, helmet, wetsuit, trisuit, swimming togs, swim lessons etc the journey began.
Luckily I had a friend (Cathy!) who knew a little about triathlons already, she’d done one sprint triathlon. Little did she know, she was also signing herself up for the Ironman journey with me 🙂 but she lived in Cork. So the search for a club began, I quickly came across a club called Pulse, and scrolling through their facebook page and checking out the crazy adventures they got up to, I knew this was the club for me!
In 2013, I took on my first triathlon, a sprint distance in Skerries and then finished up the year with the Kilkenny Olmpic triathlon. In 2014, despite luck being against me with injuries and picking up a 2month virus, I managed to complete the 70.3 Ironman distance in Austria, another step closer. This lead me into 2015, this was to be the year I’d take on the Ironman, something I knew I always wanted to do, yet at the same time, could never comprehend actually being able to complete!
Barcelona was the perfect choice, it was literally the latest IRONMAN possible in the season giving me the whole summer to train, and also allowing me to put off the 30 week training plan for as long as possible!! I convinced myself 30 weeks was grand, sure first 10 wks are just a warm up, the second 10 weeks you start to add up the distance, and the last 3 weeks are taper, so you’re really only doing 7 proper training weeks, funny how you can convince yourself of these things. But then, you add in life! Work trips abroad, Irish summer weather, multiple weekends devoted to weddings, hens, and that one night out you can’t miss – happening nearly every weekend, suddenly, it becomes a balancing act!
After a hectic summer, October had finally come, everyone who was to be an Ironman in 2015 already were and had hung up their runner!
IRONMAN Barcelona 2015:
Wandering up to the entrance of the Barcelona Race Expo and it all became real! You just can’t beat the Ironman branding and the experience that goes along with it. The Expo itself was just off the beach so was a perfect spot for chilling out the days before the race. Weather conditions had been a main topic of conversation those days due to fierce choppy water conditions in the run up to the day (one Dublin guy unfortunately broke his collar bones in attempting to go for a swim), and winds were uncertain as to what way they would go.
Race Morning:
Alarm set for 6am, October 4th, race day! Town was pitch black walking down to the start line but it quickly brightened up. With last minute checks and loading up the water bottles with sugar, the two hours of prep time quickly disappeared and we were being herded into the pens for the rolling swim start. This was interesting, it was like you were queuing in line for a concert, next minute, you’re at the water edge and before you know it, your Ironman begins! It all happens very fast, emotions you have built up for the past 6 months run through you. Luckily I saw a few familiar and supportive faces (Dee, Niamh, Kim) in the crowds that helped settle the nerves and then off I went.
Swim – 1:24
Water was kinda choppy but nothing compared to the previous days or some of those training sessions in Killiney so I was feeling quite comfortable. There were big buoys every 500m with signs on them so slowly I counted down each one as I went along. Hitting the half-way mark was definitely a boost of confidence, I only had a 70.3 swim distance left, I can do this. Hopping on to the feet of a few in front of me, I attempted to focus on just keeping up with them and before I knew it, I was hearing the roars of the crowds back by the shore again! The Swim was over! I had no idea of time as I’d knocked my Garmin into transition mode but none of that mattered, ⅓ down (kinda), I’d clocked in on my first timing mat for all those at home tracking me and I spotted the Pulse crew and family in the crowds, I was ready for the next part!
A quick change in transition, munching on a banana, grabbing the helmet and off I went out to the bike. Jumping up on the bike after mount line and visor went crashing down on the ground! Eeks but it didn’t crack so off I hopped, stumbled to pick it up and within seconds, I was off with people around me cheering my name!
Bike – 6:34
Ok, so just 180km to do, it’ll be grand, not done this distance before but how hard can it be. The route was fairly flat with inclines on a number of off-ramps on the highway. Wind was also starting to pick up. The course was 2.5 loops out towards Barcelona and back along the coast. First loop went well, unaware that on the way back, the wind carried me the whole way, first loop down with average of 30km/hr and I was well ahead of my expectations, my mind started wandering, the whatif’s if I kept up this average the whole time, but that was all short lived! Looping around the Callella roundabout to start my second lap, the support and crowds were amazing, including the Pulsers screaming out my name! 🙂
Once I left the crowds of supporters starting out on my second lap, it all got very lonely, and I started to realise how far I still had to go, not only on the bike which I wasn’t even half-way through, but to also take on a whole marathon! To add to it, the wind was now against me and my speed was dropping as low as 23km/hr and I was getting tired, very tired, like time to sleep tired! Shit! It wasn’t so much as ‘hitting the wall’ but if I kept going this way, I wouldn’t make the cut off! Pedaling away, I zoned out for a period that I didn’t even notice a girl overtaking me, and within seconds, heard a call from a marshal telling me to pull back to avoid drafting. I hadn’t even noticed the cyclist ahead of me! That was a close call! Last thing I wanted was a 5 minute penalty! Looking down, I saw I had sweated out so much salts, it was like a pattern on my shorts. This was not something I’d experienced in any training. Luckily I had packed a spare zero tablet last minute before the race so popped that into my water and knocked it back. Almost instantly, I felt a new lease of life and was back on track. This was also helped by turning back with the wind on my second loop. Another roar of supporters as I hit Callella, two loops down, half to go and the marathon was just within sight!
Cycling back through the town on route to transition and I was absolutely buzzing that I’d made it this far. Streets were narrow with ramps on the way back so I slowed my speed down and started focusing my mind on the marathon. It’d been 6 and a half hours since my feet last touched the ground! Just before the mount line, I hopped off my bike and attempted to run into transition, but that didn’t happen. My knee went on me and I was unable to run at all, I actually needed to use my bike to hold me up.. This was not good! I started to panic, but figured, just get myself to transition, quickly change and then deal with this marathon.
Into the tent, grabbed my bag, changed, packed & dropped bag and suddenly, with all the distractions going on around me, next minute I was 200m into the marathon without realising it, running at a faster speed than planned and no sign of knee issues, did I just imagine that? I literally couldn’t walk properly 5 minutes ago! Putting that aside, it dawned on me that the last stretch, the Ironman marathon had now begun! Slowing my pace right back down, I quickly got into an easy stride and began my 4 loops of 10km. Supporters were everywhere on the run course, I met my Ironman Support Crew – Steve and the family early on in the run and that was a definite boost! Pulsers were dotted around the place giving great support and every Irish supporter on the route shouted out my name. The ground also had the added bonus of ‘Go Pulse’ which gave me a great boost every time I went past it!
Run – 5:11
About 4 km of the run loop was lined with supporters in Callella, then the remaining 6km was out of the town on a mix of footpath and gravel surface. On each loop, the 4km strip really boosted the spirits and then you had 6kms which was much quieter and had a tendency to drag. Over the course of the run, I kept myself fueled on bananas and gels with the plan to move onto coke for the last lap. Slowly the kilometers added up, and remaining loops counted down. Coming up on the fourth loop, it all started to feel real, I had passed the finishing shoot 4 times now, hearing the names being shouted out ‘YOU ARE AN IRONMAN’ and the flashing of lights. Just one 10km would bring me to that moment! As mentioned, I had kept my pace slow but steady from the beginning and this really stood to me at the end. Completing the final loop, I continued my jogging pace and passed out many that were now walking. The course had gotten very dark at this stage, the sun had set and there were parts out of the town that had no street lighting at all. Despite getting tired you needed your with about you, eyeing the runners footsteps ahead of you and also being ready to catch yourself if the gravel tripped you up. Half way through the last loop, I was running through a dark section with no one around me, next minute, an edge of trail caught my feet and I went down. Unable to see what the damage was and with no one around, I figured I just need to pick myself up, not feel sorry for myself and just keeping going.
Coming back into the town for my last time, a sense of accomplishment rushed through me. I knew I would make it to the finish line, but at the same time, just couldn’t believe it was actually happening. As I got close, just 100m away, this time it was my turn where I could take the turn to the right and make my way down the red carpet! One foot on the start of the red carpet, this was the moment I’d been picturing all day to keep me going.
Running down the red carpet, I grabbed the Irish flag off my mum, people on either side of me were high fiving me, the lights ahead of me are flashing brightly, camera and flashes from every direction, the MC host was calling out my name, I hear a familiar voice shouting out my name, it’s Dee and unknown to her, my dad beside her also cheering me on. Over the line I go! ‘Gillian, You are an IRONMAN’! The infamous red carpet held up to its expectations and was everything I imagined and more!
